The Film section of the Film & Wayang Gallery, one of the four Singapore Living Galleries at the National Museum of Singapore, reopened on 27 April 2012 after a three-month renovation. With new additions of cinema related paraphernalia, contextual photographs and audio-visual clips, the revamped Film section explores the production and consumption of films from the 1950s to the 1970s.
As part of the National Museum’s on-going efforts to celebrate our diverse culture and rich heritage, the renewed Film section depicts the boom of the entertainment industry from the middle of the 20th century, telling the history of the popular cinema halls, well-known actors and actresses, lucrative film productions and businesses, and the social conditions that changed alongside the technological advancements that altered our relationship with this visual culture.
Notable changes made to the Film section include the rearrangement of showcases to dedicate specific sections to Malay, Indian and Chinese films; additional handbills, posters and publications that were part of the pictorial strategies adopted by the then thriving film businesses; display of ticket stubs, photographs of film shooting, studios and premieres to provide contextual understanding; and the screenings of two more films – Lion City (1960) and Singapore (1960).